HARTSELLE, Ala. – The Cullman Bearcats hit the road to renew their rivalry with the fourth-ranked Hartselle Tigers Thursday night, and it was a tough night for the black & gold. The ‘Cats trailed 7-0 at halftime but the Tigers created some separation and pulled away in the second half to pick up a 24-0 win over Cullman.
Hartselle got the ball to start out the game, and a mixture of the run and the pass quickly got the Bearcat defense in trouble. A pair of third-down conversions helped keep their drive alive, and a seven-yard pass put them at the 19. Three plays later, they scored on a 12-yard touchdown pass to give them an early 7-0 lead. Weston Keel got a first down on the ground for Cullman, and Colt Colvard found Brooks Loftin for 10 yards and a first down. Two plays later, Colvard connected with Kolby Holt for 18 yards and another first down, as they put them at the 45. Their offense stalled after that, and they were forced to punt.
A Tiger punt gave the ball back to the Bearcats. They picked up a first down early on in the drive, and Keel collected a pair of first down on the ground, as that put them past midfield at the 48. They quickly went backwards after that, and they were forced to punt. Cullman’s defense forced the first turnover of the game, as Kamden Dye recovered a Hartselle fumble at the 20. A three-and-out by the Bearcats, though, gave the ball right back to the Tigers. Cullman kept Hartselle out of the end zone to end the first half, and they went into the locker room trailing, 7-0.
On the first play of the second half, a huge 33 yard pass from Colvard to Nelson Hollingsworth quickly put the Bearcats at the 47. They quickly got behind the sticks after that, and the Tigers picked off a Colvard pass at the 48. They cashed in off of that turnover in just six plays, as a 15-yard touchdown run gave them a 14-0 lead.
Colvard found Keel for 9 yards on third down to help keep Cullman’s drive alive. Their drive stalled after that, and they were forced to punt. The Tigers struck quickly on their next drive, as they scored on a 50-yard touchdown to make it 21-0 late in the third quarter. Hartselle kicked a 25-yard field goal on its next drive to increase their lead to 24-0. The Bearcats were unable to capitalize after that and they ended up falling to the Tigers 24-0.
Colvard went 8/14 for 80 yards and an interception, Keel finished with 59 yards rushing and Dye recovered a fumble for the Bearcats.
Cullman (1-6) will be back on the road next week to take on Columbia.
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